Wash rag or pad



July 31, 1934. I 5. MAR 1,968,696

WASH RAG OR PAL Filed Jan. 30, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 31, 1934. MAR I 1,968,696

WASH RAG OR PAD Filed Jan. so,' 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snnentor Z'Z rmda Mar Patented July 31, 1 934 ATENT OFFICE.

WASH RAG OR PAD Edmundo Mar, lvienterey, Mexico, assignor of one-half to Prisciliano Elizondo, Monterey,

Mexico Application January so, 1933, Serial No. 654,282

'1 Claims. (01. -209) This invention relates to wash rags or pads adapted to be used for bath and other cleansing purposes and, among other objects, aims to pro-- vide an improved, simple and inexpensive rag composed of several layers of fibre impregnated with an individual portion of soap so as to provide abundant lather instantly. One of the main ideas is to provide a cheap and sanitary rag of this character, which may be used only once and thrown away.

Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

15 Fig. 1 is a face view of a fibre rag embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the rag shown in Fig. 1 and showing three layers of fibre stitched together;

Fig. 4 is an end view of a modified form of the rag composed of two layers of fibre;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a rag or pad in the form of a mitten;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the mitten;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the mitten; and

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view.

Ordinary wash rags, sponges and the like, which are used in bathrooms, bathhouses, hotels, kitchens, etc., require frequent sterilization to avoid contamination and to prevent the spread of diseases. "In using such rags, it is quite a laborious operation to saturate them with sufiicient soap to produce a good lather. In'fact, they have to be rubbed on the soap quite often while they are being used. Ordinary soap usually slips from the hands, causing bother to find it in soapy water. It is the principal purpose of this invention to provide a greatly improved sanitary, fibrous wash rag which has previously been impregnated with an individual portion of soap so that a new rag can be used on each occasion. The idea is to impregnate the rag or pad with just enough soap for one use so as to avoid unnecessary waste of soap. Also, the invention contemplates the previous impregnation of the rag or pad with individual portions of other substances.

Referring particularly to the drawings, Figs. 1

to 4 disclose a wash rag of rectangular shape composed of layers of lechuguilla palm or Mexican palm fibres which are sufiiciently rough to produce the necessary scrubbing or rubbing friction. Palm fibres are strong and light so that tassel the rags or pads made of them will fioat. However, it is contemplated that fibres of manila, gourds and other materials may be employed. In Fig. 3, the rag is composed of three layers 10, 11 and-12 of the fibres which arefirst thoroughly sterilized. The two outer layers 10 and 12 are stitched by separated parallel rows of stitching 13 to the central layer and are shown as being waved or puckered to provide tubular pockets 14. If desired, these pockets may be filled with coarse fibres or some more or less elastic and yieldable material to keep the pockets open and thereby increase the suction and expulsion effect when the rag or pad is squeezed and released. Before the layers are stitched together, the fibre in the middle layer or in both of the outer layers, or in all of the layers, is previously soaked in a pure soap solution, either alone 'or in combination with one or more chemical compounds which will produce abundant lather in soft, hard, oily 7 or any other kinds of water. Ordinary thread is used to bind the layers together and the stitches serve to prevent displacement of the fibre. In making the rag composed of three layers, the two outside layers 10 and 12 are longer than the middle layer and are waved to provide pockets of the desired size. The purpose of the pockets is to provide an air space between the layers and thereby form an air cushion which causes the rapid formation of soap lather or suds by suction and expulsion when the rag is compressed and released.

In Fig. 4, the central layer 11 is omitted and the two outer layers are stitched together in the same manner as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The pockets are formed in the rag having the two layers by waving the fibre, either before or after the layers are stitched together. Either or both of the layers may also be impregnated with soap and chemicals.

Referring to Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, there is shown a rag or pad in the form of a mitten. In this case, a rag 15 is shown as being made of multiple layers of fibre stitched together intermediate their edges by parallel rows of stitches 16 to 10 provide tubular air pockets like those shown in Fig. 3 and to one side of the rag is stitched two pieces of waterproof fabric or material 17 and 18 of different widths so as to provide a mitten of such size as tom the hand. The free end of the 10 rag is preferably bound by a tape 19 stitched to the fibre layers. While the inner waterproof piece 17 may be omitted in some cases, it is preferred so as to prevent direct contact of the hand with the rag during its use. It will be observed 11 that both pieces of fabric are wider than the rag and that they are stitched to the edges of the rag by a single row-of stitching 20 which serves also to bind the ends of the multiple layers of fibre. The space between the waterproof layers and the rag may be partially filled with a charge of any kind of soap such as the pieces which usually go to waste or powdered soap. type of pad is not only adapted for use in'bathing' or washing the body, but especially useful in cleansing lavatories, bathtubs, sinks, kitchenware, fioors, furniture and other articles. It will last much longer than the ordinary fibre rag without the mitten attachment. ,7

When the improved rag or pad is to be used in hard or salty water, it is contemplated that one of the outer layers of fibre shall be impregnated with citric acid or its equivalent and'the otherv outer layer with bicarbonate of soda or its equivalent; while the middle layer is covered or coated with a thin layer of soap. These materials are selected because they do not decompose the soap.

Joj

The chemical reaction of citric acid and bicarbonate of soda in the water produces an effervescence which causes the soap to make abundant foam or suds in any kind of water. The same result may be accomplished by impregnating the outer layers of fibre with soap and depositing bicarbonate of soda in some of the pockets and citric acid in other pockets. This is especially desirable when only two layers of fibre are used, as shown in Fig. 3. In some cases, bicarbonate of soda, alone, will be sumcient if the water is of such nature as to cause the desired efiervescence.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the improved rags or pads may be manufactured at a very low cost and that they are especially adapted for individual use. They may be wrapped in waterproof paper of cellophane and are absolutely sanitary. Their use makes possible a very considerable saving of soap and the expense of laundering ordinary rags.

Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiments thereof herein shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. A wash rag or pad composed of wavy layers of vegetable fibres sewn together by a plurality of spaced rows of stitches with the waves in at least two of the layers opposed to each other and forming air pockets between the rows of stitches whereby the rag will produce lather by suction and expulsion when the rag is compressed and released.

2. A wash rag of the character described com prising two layers of wavy vegetable fibre sewn together at spaced intervals with the waves in the layers Opposed to each other and forming air spaces between the layers whereby the rag, when compressed and released, will produce a suction and expulsion effect necessary to produce abundant lather, said fibres being sufliciently rough to produce the necessary cleansing friction.

3. A wash rag or pad comprising multiple layers of sterilized .vegetable fibre sewn together by a plurality of parallel rows of stitches, two of said layers being buckled with respect to each other to provide air pockets in the spaces between the rows of stitches.

4. A wash rag composed of multiple layers or vegetable fibre secured together at least one of the layers being impregnated with soap and sep= arate charges of citric acid and bicarbonate of soda carried by the layers to produce. ,abundanti foam in any kind of water. 1

5. A wash rag composed of three layers of veg-fie.

table fibre stitched together by parallel rows of, stitching; the outer layers being wider thanthe. middle layer and being buckled topresent tubu lar portions between the several rows of stitchleaj waterproof material stitched to the opposite. sides and one end of the rag portion providing a I H5 a pocket to receive-the hand- 7. A, mitten-type pad comprising a rag portion composed of multiple layers of vegetable fibre stitched togetherat intervals longitudinally of the pad with'the outside layers bowed so as to present longitudinal pockets between the stitch:

ing; and separate pieces of waterproof material stitched to the opposite sidesand one end of the rag portion providing a space between said pieces to receive the hand and also a pocket between the fibre layers and the waterproof layers to insert soap or other materials.

' EDMUNDO MAR 

